Who Said It First?

WHO said it first?

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2020

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‘The crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians, government officials, business persons and police officers!’

• Tel: (758) 450-0021 / 31 / 728 1000 • Fax: (758) 450-0092 • Email: info@bluewatersslu.com • Website: www.bluewatersslu.com

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SHUT UP SHOP

capacity to produce life if we doh let off none. Lock shop and reflect on what this thing is doing to us and to the future. I am saying to my sisters across the Caribbean, let us really was an only child and when no-holds-barred fight, literally to liners came up with this classic: consider and appreciate this at nineteen I did very well in the death, between the sexes.

“My wife is a sex object—every thing we have and the case of the Cambridge Higher School Relationship counsellor, John time I ask for sex, she objects.” how it is used.”

Certificate (HSC) examination, Gray, in his extremely popular Steve Martin, the comedian,

According to Maureen I got a job as a teacher in book Men Are from Mars, added: “You know that look Shaw, American feminist writer a nearby co-educational Women Are from Venus, claims women get when they want and advocate for women’s secondary school. I had grown that the reason for relationship sex? Me neither.” rights, “It’s not such a crazy up in a tough neighbourhood so conflicts is that each gender is

If Steve and other men, idea: Women have withheld I very quickly double-crossed accustomed to its own set of especially those from the sex to protest social injustices the boundaries of academia and emotional balances, cultures, Caribbean, have problems now, and advocate for political tried to make up for lost time and values, or, metaphorically there is a possibility things reform throughout history. by excessive drinking, smoking, speaking, lives on different might get worse. According to Many of these strikes have gambling and mayhem. My planets. Even there in outer the Jamaica Gleaner, “Reacting proven successful . . . ” Ms. parents became very worried space the war goes on to to a wave of spousal violence Shaw referred to the ancient and one evening, when I sat determine who are really the in her country, the fire of fury Greek play Lysistrata in which down to have dinner before I Masters of the Universe. was lit by Trinidad and Tobago women teamed up to end left for the bar where my friends While opinions are as writer and gender advocate the Peloponnesian War, and were waiting, my father, egged divided as the sexes, there is Nazma Muller, who took to stressed that sex strikes have on by my mother, said very no doubt that men and women her social-media page urging spanned hundreds of years and seriously, “Son, you behaving are different but, as the French women to organise a sex strike multiple countries. In 1600, real wild and getting out of say, “Vive la difference!” Billy to starve men into submission for example, women of the control. As a teacher you have Crystal, the American actor and put the cause of women’s Iroquois tribe “shut up shop” to to settle down. We believe is and comedian, made it clear rights on the front burner. stop unregulated warfare. The time you take a wife.” I thought that it is not a level battlefield: She has proposed that the tactic worked and they gained about it for a second and then “Women need a reason to have sex strike be imposed until veto power over all future replied, “That sounds like a sex. Men just need a place.”

March 8, International Women’s wars. In pre-colonial times, good idea. Just show me who Barbara Cartland, best-selling Day.” Speaking to The Gleaner, Nigerian women used the threat wife to take and I will take her.” author of popular romantic Ms. Muller urged women to effectively, and in modern times What I learnt afterwards is that novels, put it differently: “Among protest against the ideology there are examples from other regardless of whose wife you men, sex sometimes results that women were property and countries including Colombia, take, marriage is very serious in intimacy; among women, argued that men “will never Italy, the Philippines, South business and is the major intimacy sometimes results miss the water till the well runs Sudan, Togo and Liberia of battlefield in what is a neverin sex.” British comedian Les dry.” She is convinced, “They successful shop closures. In ending, no quarter given and Dawson, famous for his onewill begin to value us and our fact, Leymah Gbowee of the Liberia Mass Action for Peace received a Nobel Prize for using GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA the threat of a sex strike as the MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, PORTS, ENERGY AND LABOUR main strategy in ending a

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February 08, 2020 THE STAR

14-year civil war.

The major question, though, is would this strategy be taken seriously in the Caribbean? In Trinidad there has been no major reaction in the local newspapers. Ms. Muller, a former editor of the Jamaica Observer, made headlines last year as “Marijuana activist charged for obscene language outside Parliament.” Some Trinis don’t take Ms. Muller seriously and one told me, “She should bat in she own crease instead of other people own.” In fact, Jamaica seems to be the only Caribbean country where there has been some support for Ms. Muller’s suggestion but with many doubts about its effectiveness.

While saying she would strongly advocate for Jamaican women to also “lock shop”, Professor Opal Palmer Adisa of the Institute of Gender Studies in the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica is not sure it would be adopted “because many women will not feel sufficiently empowered to engage in a strike of this nature”. She believes men should be recruited as “loud voices” in the campaign against domestic violence. Jamaican gender activist Nadeen Spence also believes that the strategy would not be successful in Jamaica because some women “were quick to cast blame on other women”.

If the reaction to the

Gleaner article truly reflects the views of Jamaicans, the boycott or “mancutt” or “sexcutt” will fail. In fact, one of my Jamaican Facebook friends said they shouldn’t shut up shop, they should just shut up the shop talk. One person wrote, “Are you all this clueless? This will inevitably provoke the very violence and abuse you’re claiming to want to curb!” Another warned, “These advocates are asking for more murders in Jamaica.”

Two other responses stand out: “If you withhold sex from men, they will simply go and find it elsewhere . . . ” and “When she is on strike, another woman would grab the chance to strike.” While these responses are not consistent with the historical and global success of the no-sex campaigns, they demonstrate what one of my psychologist friends calls “the big gap” (both physical and psychological) between women and men. As American journalist Mignon McLaughlin pointed out, “Desire is in men a hunger, in women only an appetite.” Basically, this means that while women are concerned with gender, men are always preoccupied with sex.

Tony Deyal was last seen saying anybody who believes the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, failed both geography and biology.

MILLENNIUM HIGHWAY AND WEST COAST ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT PROJECT COORDINATOR - UNITED KINGDOM CARIBBEAN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIP FUND (UKCIF) REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has applied for financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) – United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) towards the cost of Millennium Highway and West Coast Road Reconstruction Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOSL and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purposes of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

No party other than GOSL shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

This project is being implemented by the Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy (DIPE), through the Project Management Unit (PMU). The Project Coordinator within the PMU shall be responsible for the day-to-day management of project activities. Engineering Consultants shall be retained by DIPE to assist with the supervision of the contract. Approximately 40.2 km of Road Rehabilitation is projected for the programme.

DIPE (hereinafter referred to as “the Employer”) intends to engage the services of a Project Coordinator (PC) for the duration of the project implementation phase. The PC will be engaged to provide technical and project management services to the office of the PMU. Full requirements, responsibilities, compensation and all pertinent information about the above employment opportunity is now available on the Caribbean Development Bank`s Website www.caribank.org and on the Government of Saint Lucia`s Website: www.govt.lc

Saint Lucia imposes travel restrictions on travellers from China O n Thursday, January 30, 2020, during the second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the World Health Organization Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the People’s Republic of China, the committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The WHO indicated that it expects further international exportation of cases which may appear in

any country. It advised that all countries should be prepared for containment, which includes prevention measures, active surveillance, early detection, isolation, case management and contact tracing.

The Department of Health and Wellness of Saint Lucia has noted the escalation in the classification of the outbreak and is taking measures to restrict the possible entry of Coronavirus Disease into Saint Lucia and to protect its citizens.

In that regard, the Government of Saint Lucia will not allow any non-national with a travel history within the previous 14 days from mainland China (whether in-transit or

originating) to enter any local port as of 12 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020.

Any national returning to Saint Lucia with similar travel history, will be quarantined for 14 days.

The Government of Saint Lucia commends the Chinese government authorities in their efforts to manage and contain the outbreak and will continue working to strengthen the local capacities against this global threat.

For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer on 468-5309 or the Epidemiology Unit on 468-5325.

THE STAR

february 08, 2020

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february 08, 2020 THE STAR

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ECCB Governor wants countries with CBI programMEs to unite

coming together of the region’s Citizenship by Investment programmes is needed. This was the plea by the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Timothy Antoine at a recent press briefing here. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia all operate CBI programmes. There are, however, many differences separating the countries.

For instance, the minimum investment required for one applicant in Saint Lucia, Antigua and Dominica is US$100,000, while in Grenada and St. Kitts, it’s US$150,000.

Under the real estate option, Antigua’s minimum investment is US$400,000; Grenada, $350,000; Saint Lucia, $300,000; Dominica and St. Kitts, $200,000.

Antoine stated that the ECCB’s view is that the region is seen as one despite what individual countries do. The Caribbean, he says, is a brand, and if there is an adverse development in one island it

affects all the others. “So our view is that we have to come together. We believe that the coming together will help all of our CBI programmes. Set the same standards, ensure that if you get denied in country A, you cannot get accepted in country B, because it’s a single space.

Set the price reasonable, but not too low. We don’t want to sell ourselves short.”

Anthony noted that the CBI programmes are important to countries in the regionand a main source of foreign direct investment.

Therefore, Antoine said, the bank has an interest in the industry from a position of financial stability, fiscal and debt sustainability, as well as growth. The ECCB Governor lamented that as a result of competition the price keeps dropping lower and lower.

“We believe that what we have to offer in this region is valuable, is precious, and should be more highly valued.

But the only way you can raise the price, and sustain the price

ECCB Governor Timothy Antoine (left) and CEO of Saint Lucia’s Citizenship

by Investment Unit Nestor Alfred (right): both agree that collaboration between the Caribbean’s CBI programmes is crucial.

for the benefit of all, is if they come together,” said Antoine.

When asked to suggest a price, Antoine said he was “not prepared to go that far”.

However, he advised it should reflect the exclusiveness of the region, but not be so high as would price countries out of the market.

On Monday and Tuesday, heads of CBI programmes

within the region met in Saint Lucia. Nestor Alfred, the CEO of Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Unit, told the STAR the meeting was convened to discuss matters relevant to the industry. Alfred, who also serves as the chairman of Citizenship by Investment Program Association, said the two-day meeting was productive, with frank

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discussions. He noted that individual countries can remain competitive but there are many avenues where collaboration can be achieved; for example, in the areas of exchange of information, and bringing harmonization to application forms.

“If rain falls on the roof on one OECS island,” he said, “it will invariably fall on the roof

of every other island. So it’s really important that we do this.

And because of the common space that we share, it’s even more important. There are some things that we have agreed on, which I can’t share just now, because each of us has to go back to our islands to make that communication.”

--Joshua St. Aimee

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In the Court of Public Opinion How is the Trust Judged?

Dean Nestor

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hen the Saint Lucia National Trust on September 9, 2018 successfully petitioned the high court to issue an order prohibiting the demolition of the old Castries Prison, it was difficult to gauge exactly where public sentiment lay. Various Cabinet members on several occasions expressed their frustration at not being able to move forward with such a vitally important project. Police frustration at the news of the injunction was widely publicized. But what exactly was the view of the wider nation?

By its own admission the Trust, in an open letter dated September 8, 2018, acknowledged the “proposed demolition [of the prison] is part of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Halls of Justice project funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)”.

In the same missive, the Trust lauded the government, the OECS Supreme Court and the Caribbean Development Bank “for this important initiative”.

By this stated line the Trust acknowledged that the proposed demolition of the old prison could not be dismissed as just another Allen Chastanet vanity project.

Nevertheless, the organisation did not hesitate

to call on the Development Control Authority (DCA) to “issue a stop order to all works on the site until the required applications are submitted, considered and approved”.

The DCA issued no such order. Further, the required applications referred to by the Trust, needed to be submitted to the DCA itself. But interestingly, as the Trust would admit in a later press release: “Our attempts to find out upon whose authority a public building was being demolished and whether the DCA had approved the demolition were unsuccessful.”

Despite not finding out from the DCA itself whether the required approval for the demolition was given, the Trust said that its own September 10 search “of the DCA Register of Approved Projects did not reveal any approval for the demolition works at the prison”. On September 6 the conservation organisation admitted to discovering the planned demolition via social media. That it filed an injunction with just three days to think about it, is rather telling.

Given that the DCA did not issue a stop order per the Trust’s command and in the face of ongoing demolition, the Trust was concerned that “the heritage would be lost forever”. Further: “In light of this, the Council felt there was no other option but to pursue an injunction against the continued demolition.”

To be pellucid in its rationale: “The Saint Lucia National Trust Act (No 6.02 of the revised Laws of Saint Lucia) mandates the organization to list buildings, objects and monuments of prehistoric, historic and architectural interest and places of natural beauty, and to locate and promote the preservation of buildings and objects of archaeological architectural, historic, artistic or traditional interest. It is in pursuit of this aspect of its mandate that the Trust initiated legal proceedings to protect the Castries Prison.”

The Trust, by its own words, was “regrettably forced into legal recourse to meet this commitment imposed upon us by law”. Finally: “Given that the Trust had not observed any official government announcements, neither had it

Will the National Trust find itself on the wrong side of history over the demolition of the old Castries Prison?

(Pictured: SLNT director Bishnu Tulsie).

been engaged; and given that it appeared that the structures faced imminent destruction, the Trust was duty bound to seek immediate relief in the public interest.”

It’s crystal clear what the Trust sees as the public interest.

Far more important, perhaps, is what the public believes is in the public interest. It’s been well documented, the public’s exasperation with crime levels, especially homicides. And that this exasperation is expressed with increasing regularity via television, radio and social media. By the end of 2018 Saint Lucia’s homicides totalled 43. To add to the already bleak figures, last year’s homicide total was even higher and topped out at 50.

Typically topping the Who to Blame list is the police force, closely followed by the government. But has the Trust inadvertently cast itself in with that lot? The expressed opposition to the injunction by PWA president Travis Chicot did not come as a shock. Even a cursory examination of his firm statement at the time is confirmation of that: “The PWA finds it rather absurd that at this juncture there is a call, and even an injunction, against the demolition of the old HMP building,”

Perhaps more cutting is this observation: “This is a building which has been abandoned for over a decade and, as far as we know, no one, no organization had claimed it, expressed any interest in it or announced any plans for it. For us the police, how does it affect us? For years now this has been the harbouring ground for vagrants, criminals, mosquitoes and rodents, a storage area for

garbage, drugs and even stolen items.”

A former police officer’s contribution to a local radio programme last week was personal: “I’d like to see the Trust take their money and rebuild that place.” The caller exclaimed, “A total waste of time!” Of course, it can always be argued that the police have their own agenda when it comes to the issue under discussion and their collective opinion might not harmonize with the public view. Mary Francis summed it up this way: “There are lots of matters that need attention in Saint Lucia.

You have the whole matter of the court and the old prison. While I understand it is the duty of the Trust to conserve and preserve heritage and what-not, when you look at the members of the Trust they are not persons who actually stand in the shoes of the poor people, people who, because of economic problems, get themselves into conflict with the law. Those people are standing outside in the street; they need justice. And it’s incumbent upon the state, which creates the justice system, and the legislation, which causes people sometimes to come before the court, to provide an adequate courthouse for those persons, preventing them from standing in the elements of rain and sun. Members of the Trust are not being evicted from their homes because they cannot pay rent. There must be a balance and we have to be realistic. I’m calling on the government to make haste and move speedily to demolish the old prison and build a new courthouse.”

In this seeming war between the government and the Trust, the big question is: Is the tail wagging the dog?

THE STAR

IGY Rodney Bay Marina & RSLPF join forces on Yachting Security

Sean Devaux (right) presents ASP Elvis Thomas with the VHF radio.

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n Thursday, February 6, 2020 IGY Rodney Bay Marina presented officers at Gros Islet Police Station with a brand-new marine VHF radio. This piece of equipment will aid the officers in their efforts in providing support to the yachting community of Saint Lucia.

On hand to make the presentation to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Elvis Thomas from Gros Islet Police Station, was the General Manager of IGY Rodney Bay Marina, Sean Devaux.

Both parties agreed that the contribution will significantly shorten response times to any calls of yachting-related incidents in Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet area.

This donation by IGY Rodney Bay Marina is the continuation of initiatives that the marina has taken, in partnership with the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, to ameliorate security in the yachting sector.

By extension, Saint Lucia as a destination and the community which has supported IGY as well as the yachting sector over the years, will certainly benefit from IGY’s continued efforts.

In the upcoming weeks, IGY Rodney Bay Marina will co-ordinate training sessions for all the officers attached to Gros Islet Police Station on the use of the marine VHF radio.

Fatal Accident in Ravine Poisson

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n Wednesday, January 29, 2020 the Traffic Unit of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force responded to a report of a vehicular collision at Ravine Poisson, Castries.

On arrival, officers were informed that three male occupants of a motorcar were reportedly injured following a collision into an electrical pole along the roadside. They were escorted to the Victoria Hospital for medical attention.

On Thursday, February 6, 2020 one of the occupants, Hemish John, a resident of Marigot, succumbed to his injuries. The two other males have since been discharged from the hospital, having received medical treatment.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled for a subsequent date.

This was the fourth recorded road fatality for the year 2020. The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force extends condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.

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Amendment to the Fiscal Incentives Act

he Ministry of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs wishes to inform the public of the recent amendment of the Fiscal Incentives Act Cap. 15.16 to include four (4) sub-sectors of the services industry, namely Creative Industry, Professional Services, Spa and Wellness and ICT. The Approved Services under the subsectors are: 1) Creative Industries • Entertainment • Motion picture and video tape production and distribution services

• Motion picture projection service • Sporting and other recreational services 2) Professional Services • Accounting services • Management Consulting services • Photographic services • Architectural services • Engineering services • Integrated Engineering services • Printing, publishing

• Veterinary services • Medical and Dental

The Approved Services qualify for exemption from Customs Duties and Excise Tax 3) Spa and Wellness on plant, equipment, machinery, • Beauty and Spa spare parts, raw materials or • Physiotherapists and services components.

The Act was also amended provided by midwives and para to allow manufacturing and medical personnel • Medical laboratories processing industries that have exhausted the previous limit of 4) ICT fifteen (15) years to benefit from • Telecommunication services additional income tax exemption for a period not exceeding five • Online information or data processing including transaction (5) years, based on the level of processing investment.

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

Roger Pratt Trial: Defence Questions Widow!

Joshua St. Aimee

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idow Margaret Pratt returned to the witness stand on Monday as the murder trial for her deceased husband resumed.

Last week fifteen jurors heard testimonies from Mrs. Pratt, United States resident Scott Davis and local police officer Philip Taylor. Director of Public Prosecutions Daarsrean Greene had only a few more questions for Pratt on Monday. She told the court that both she and her husband were swimmers. She recalled formally identifying her husband’s body at Victoria Hospital on January 20, 2014, with Dr. Stephen King in attendance. Defence attorneys Sandy John, Alberton Richelieu, David Moyston and George Charlemagne were then given the opportunity to crossexamine.

During her testimony last Tuesday, Roger Pratt’s widow had testified that following the attack on their yacht Magnetic

Attraction, she had noticed a horseshoe buoy in the water.

Only Richelieu—the lead defence attorney— questioned the witness.

“Before you retired for bed that night,” he said, “was the horseshoe buoy attached to the yacht?”

“It was,” Pratt replied.

“After the attack was concluded, you observed the horseshoe buoy in the water?”

Pratt responded in the affirmative.

“Did you detach that horseshoe buoy?”

The witness said she did not.

Richelieu: “Would I be correct to say that the horseshoe buoy can be used as a safety equipment to throw to a person in the water?”

Pratt: “You would be correct.”

On Tuesday Dr. Sherwin James took the stand. He testified that on January 18, 2014, he examined the Pratt couple at St. Jude Hospital’s emergency department. Roger Pratt had no vital signs; there was no spontaneous breathing,

heartbeat or pulse and the victim’s pupils were fixed and dilated. There were superficial lacerations to the left side of Roger Pratt’s forehead, eyebrow, top lip and mouth. There was water draining from the nostrils.

The patient was pronounced dead at about 12:08 a.m.

As for his wife Margaret, the doctor said she had superficial lacerations on the right side of her nasal bridge, right elbow and the top of her head. She also had a left black eye. X-rays of her skull and facial bones revealed no fractures. She was subsequently discharged on pain medication and antibiotics.

Asked by the DPP for his opinion on the degree of force used to administer the injuries, Dr. James said severe force was applied, possibly with a blunt object. Under crossexamination by Richelieu the witness admitted fist blows could possibly have caused the injuries.

Police officer Phillip Taylor was then recalled to the stand. At the behest of the DPP the officer identified several

The Government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, the Executing Agency for the Youth Empowerment Project, now wishes to procure consultancy services for the following: 1. Strengthening the Case Management System 2. Development of a Community-Based Policing Training Manual 3. Development of Operations Manual, Youth Reintegration Toolkit and Gender Equality Guidance Note for the Youth Recidivism Reduction and Out-Of-School Suspension Programmes For more information regarding these notices please visit the

Government of Saint Lucia’s website at http://www.govt.lc/consultancies or contact the Project Implementation Unit at Email: info. yepslu@qmail.com Telephone: (1 758) 713-1836.

suffered blunt force trauma to the head, but aspiration was the main contributing cause of death. Dr. King had conducted the post-mortem examination on Roger Pratt on January 20, 2014. On the witness stand he disclosed his many findings: “There were seven lacerations to the left side of the face; internal inter-cranial bleeding on the right side of the brain; disk damage with bleeding Roger Pratt’s widow Margaret (left) on on the 6th and 7th vertebrae Monday was questioned by defence attorney Alberton Richelieu, mainly about a horseshoe buoy of the neck; stomach content in the nose and mouth, and that Pratt testified was in the water following a a fracture on the 7th and 2014 attack on her and her husband aboard their yacht in Vieux Fort.

8th left ribs. There was also bloodstained fluid in both sides photographs taken during the Fort police station assigned to of the chest, and stomach post-mortem examination. the Scenes of Crime officers.

Seated in the public gallery, On January 3, 2020 the exhibits content and inhaled water in the airways. The lining of the Margaret Pratt looked, at times were submitted to the forensic chest cavity and lungs showed shaking her head. Officer Taylor lab. testified that he collected

Richelieu: “And so you will small haemorrhages related to aspiration, and resulting in numerous exhibits during the agree that six years later, they asphyxia.” course of his investigation and were submitted to the lab for

Dr. King also stated that submitted them to the forensics testing?” there was a contusion of 2.5 lab at Tapion on January 3,

“Yes, that’s correct,” Taylor cm in the left temporal area.

2020. They included a blood replied.

This, he said, was consistent card, buccal swab and right

Attorney George with a coup injury—contact and left fingernail swabs of the Charlemagne asked the witness on a surface with a moving deceased; also two pistol grips whether the exhibits were head. “There’s a sudden stop,” and a blue bandana. He testified moved at any point to another he explained, “resulting in a that on February 3, 2020 he location. Taylor testified that contrecoup injury to the right collected all of the exhibits they were moved, only to be side of the head. He stated that from the lab. With gloved hands, handed over to the exhibit it was moderate force, which Officer Taylor unsealed an keeper in 2019. Asked for an explains why there were no evidence bag, from which he explanation as to why it took broken bones. Dr. King said extracted a blue bandana that so long before this handing there were two possible ways he held up for the purposes of over, Taylor stated that from this injury could have happened: the jurors.

2014 “until recently”, the a fall to the left side of the head

When he returned to the Scenes of Crime office did or a push of the head into a stand on Wednesday he held not have a dedicated exhibit linear blunt surface. Dr. King up the two pistol grips and keeper. In addition, there was stated that he did not consider testified that he found one at no designated time in which a fist to be a linear blunt about 2 a.m. on January 18, exhibits should be submitted.

2014 in the yacht’s wheelhouse. He further testified that exhibits surface. Asked by jurors if a pistol could be considered a He discovered the other on are handed over on a caselinear blunt object, Dr. King the deck when he returned to by-case basis, depending on replied in the affirmative, and the ship about 10:00 am that availability of space at their highlighted the shape of a same day. In earlier evidence, storage unit.

Taylor had stated he only

In questioning the witness, pistol’s butt/grip.

The final witness on photographed one of the grips. attorney Sandy John focused Wednesday was Vieux Fort Alberton Richelieu asked the on the two pistol grips. He resident Annella Slyvester, who witness whether he agreed that queried why they were found testified that she had known he should carry his photography at different times. The officer defendant Richie Kern for over kit with him at all times to crime testified that on both visits to 22 years.

She recalled that scenes. The officer agreed. the vessel, he had carried out “And so, on 18 January, 2014,” diligent searches. As to why he some time on the afternoon of January 19, 2014, Vieux said the attorney, “were you did not find both pistol grips armed with your photography during the first visit, the witness Fort police officers, along with Richie Kern, came to her house. kit?” Taylor said he had the kit said: “I just didn’t. That’s why Slyvester said she directed the when he retrieved the second we go back to a scene, to officers to a pit latrine about pistol grip. Richelieu then asked ensure that the entire scene is 15 feet from her residence. “I the officer whether he would covered thoroughly. I just did agree that he did not take a not see it. I searched but did not saw them digging the toilet,” she testified. “They dug up photograph of the pistol grip see it at the time.” During his clothes.” At the request of the when it was retrieved. “That’s first visit at 2 a,m. said Taylor, correct,” said Taylor. “there was some lighting on the DPP, she identified Richie Kern by pointing to him. Responding The attorney moved on to boat but not much”. He could the various exhibits collected not recall if any other individual, to a question from the jurors, at the scene. Taylor testified police officer or layperson went the witness said she had not noticed anyone placing the that all were collected between on the boat between his first clothes in the toilet.

January 18 and 19, 2014 and and second visit.

The trial continues on that they were kept in secure

The pathologist Dr. Monday. storage—in an office at Vieux Stephen King said Roger Pratt

THE STAR

FEBRUARY 08, 2020

www.stluciastar.com

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10 LOCAL

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

DO OUR POLITICANS CARE ABOUT HEALTH CARE? Peter Josie

T

o listen to the ongoing debate about St. Jude and the OKEU hospitals, one would think this was all there is to health care. The suggestion is that the completion and opening of the two hospitals would solve Saint Lucia’s health care needs. This demands careful and rigorous analysis, not reckless criticism, especially if National Health Insurance is thrown in the mix. The to-ing and fro-ing about the completion of the named hospitals over the past ten years must cease. Opposition politicians and journalists in particular, have swallowed the health care bait hook, line and sinker without demanding what’s meant by health care, as opposed to sickness management—caring for the sick.

It’s high time politicians and health professionals stopped the self-serving politicking and educate people about a holistic approach to health care, as opposed to treating people who are sick at wellness centres and hospitals. Health care is

a lifestyle every leader ought to advocate and practice. This includes regular exercise, eating small balanced meals, avoiding sugary substances, cigarettes and alcohol, while sleeping seven to eight hours at night. A senior citizen once advised me that I should eat my medicine every day. By which she meant I should avoid sugar, eat vegetables, fruits and seafood, along with herbs, which may not be tasty but are perfect for body and mind. If we follow this simple advice we may discover there is less need to visit a doctor or health facility, especially during the most vibrant years of our lives—the first sixty.

The issue of a National Health Insurance scheme has been bandied about in isolation of a healthy lifestyle. The question of affordability is often raised in reference to National Health Insurance, proposed by the government. The idea for a National Health Insurance scheme was proposed around twenty-three years ago, when I last served in parliament. If it was easy, it would have been done a long time ago. I am yet to see a concrete plan on the way forward, beginning with a clear definition of health care as opposed to

the management of the sick.

How much would National Health Insurance cost? And the million-dollar question is: How would these costs be distributed through various age groups within the population?

If there is to be a national health plan, what proposals would best serve our needs?

From what age would a person be covered by such a plan? How much would a healthy young person who lives a healthy lifestyle pay in monthly or yearly premiums, versus one who lives recklessly? What would be the cost to folks aged 35 to 55 years, who are at their peak income?

And what would it cost those 56 years and over? Should a national health plan be designed so that each person pays the same premium?

Supposing a majority of Saint Lucians were fit and healthy, of what value would medical insurance be to them (except to safeguard a bank loan), in the prime of their time? Let me put this another way: Is it in the interest of insurance companies for citizens to practise healthy lifestyles? Insurance companies are aware that senior citizens need sickness management

vagabonds posing as politicians, with greedy and dishonest health care professional hacks. It’s time for the more serious politicians to teach people health care. They must dispose of their fancy digital timepieces and replace them with a ‘fitbit’ wristwatch. They ought to aim at no less than ten thousand steps per day on their fitbit and to double that number on weekends.

People must be inspired to walk by the example their politicians set. In addition, politicians should not be seen gorging on sugary foods or stuffing themselves as if they were competing in an eating contest. Monster-bellied politicians bring to mind "Do as I say, don’t do as I do" conmen.

The ignorant may ridicule people Gone are the days when to be overweight was a sign of happiness. Health care involves more than who lose weight but these ignoramuses must stop the just hospitals, says the author. It also demands a particular lifestyle, attention to how and what we hypocrisy and man-up to the eat, not to mention eight hours sleep nightly. fact that a trim adult male or female, is usually healthier than more often than do healthy young that covers the entire citizenry, their overweight critics. A fit and people. Tap into their expertise. thereby reducing the need for trim person is more likely to be

There is one more crucial private insurance. living his or her best life, without question our politicians need

In this regard, we must making a fuss about it. Then to answer: Is there a place in demand from our politicians again, in our salt-fish society, a health insurance scheme that they cease and desist from jealousy abounds. for holistic herbal medicines spewing loose talk about St.

When politicians and those including marijuana oils and other Jude and OKEU hospitals, as if who know better keep harping on feel-good plant derivatives? If the they were the be-all and end-all about St. Jude and OKEU, what nation were to pursue a healthy needed for a healthy nation. You they are doing is disrespecting lifestyle would some health must have noticed, dear reader, people who lack information providers become jobless? My how little they emphasize the on health care versus sickness response is that smart people can value of the workers who are management. It’s a New Year; always find alternative use for building the hospital, and the time to turn a new page; time to their God-given talents. Insurance nurses and doctors, who work to focus on praising the workers at companies, on the other restore patients to health. When our health institutions who give hand, may take issue with the these hospitals are fully functional so much. They must also spare a government if it were to introduce we must ensure they do not fall thought for the workers building a National Health Insurance plan into the hands of crooks and the new St. Jude hospital.

VACANCY NOTICE – PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority invites applicants for the position of Public Relations Manager based in Saint Lucia. The position reports to the Chief Executive Officer. The incumbent is responsible for managing the PR Agencies and coordinating the PR effort of Saint Lucia in its main tourist generating markets. He/She is to highlight the activities of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority with an effective Public Relations strategy, which will assist in creating a positive public image of the destination and the Authority within the local public and the international markets. The specific duties for this position are outlined below: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

To participate in the strategic planning of the organizations work plans, programs and budgets.

To prepare and execute annual and quarterly work plans - approvals obtained prior to implementation To prepare monthly PR and financial reports for submission the 1 st week of every month To manage the PR Department and ensure its delivery of established objectives and targets.

To maintain a current database of local and regional press, as well as international press who have visited the island.

To maintain a contact list of relevant industry partners including hotels, PR Representatives in each source market.

To service Media enquiries including maintaining an adequate supply of press information and kits.

To generate and curate content on an ongoing basis on the products, services, offers, events and promotions To develop and maintain a destination photography and videography library though an online portal.

To manage and coordinate the use of the global press database to disseminate, monitor and analyze information posted online in both mainstream and social media. Build media contacts to assist with press outreach.

To disseminate content through press releases, digital platforms, and other trade and consumer media To stimulate interest in Saint Lucia by foreign press through information dissemination, pitching of stories, press trip facilitation and ongoing engagement and incentives.

To develop and be responsible for Crisis Communication Plan.

To prepare and distribute regular newsletters, press releases and articles to the local and regional media on the work of the Authority.

To monitor local and regional media, analyze and report on issues. Provide management with counsel on media responses and media relations.

To organize press trips, interviews, conferences and press launches.

To draft speeches and statements on behalf of the CEO, Chairperson and Minister as and when required.

To provide support to the overseas PR agencies/Consultants and disseminate information to the Authority’s Overseas Offices.

To generally assist in the work of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and undertake other duties which may be required from time to time as assigned by the Head of Department or CEO.

Qualifications/Experience: • Degree in Public Relations, Journalism, Communications or Related field.

• Minimum of 5 years diverse experience in PR, Communications, Media Skills/Abilities: • Intimate knowledge of Saint Lucia’s tourism product and tourism public relations • Proficient in Microsoft Office and Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Instagram etc.)

• Excellent Public Speaking & Sales Presentation skills. Proficient with database software tools.

• Demonstrated relationship building and interpersonal skills.

• Abreast with market trends and innovations as well as new approaches to PR and Journalism.

• APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM SUITABLE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES

BY SUBMITTING YOUR RESUME WITH AT LEAST TWO REFERENCES ADDRESSED TO CHIEF CORPORATE OFFICER, SAINT LUCIA TOURISM AUTHORITY, P.O. BOX 221, CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA AND SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL AT JOBAPPLICATIONS@STLUCIA.ORG BY 25TH FEBRUARY 2020.

SLP Salutes Neville Skeete – An Amazing Human Being Statement By Leader of the Opposition Hon. Philip J. Pierre

O

n Wednesday 29 January 2020, the Labour Party lost a cherished member and supporter in the person of Mr Neville Skeete OBE. Saint Lucia lost a kind and consummate professional Architect, very likely the best that the country has ever had—a man whose work ethic and professionalism were beyond challenge.

Numerous charities, including the Marian Home, the Ciceron Children’s Orphanage, the St. Lucy’s Home and a host of others, lost an incomparable humanitarian and benefactor.

And the Skeete family—

immediate and extended—lost its patriarch—a loving, affectionate husband, devoted father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend.

Neville was the supreme gentleman . . . the model host.

Those who visited his home will unhesitatingly attest to this truth.

So too, those who may have had just an occasional encounter with this amazing human being.

From 1970 Neville’s architectural adorns bless Saint Lucia’s landscape, from north to south, from east to west; they will forever give testimony to the uniqueness of his talent and

creativity. His architectural concepts and designs ranged from residential, educational, institutional, commercial and hospitality developments in Saint Lucia and overseas.

The Labour Party—its leadership, members and supporters—wish the family feelings of comfort, moments of peace, and memories of joy during this difficult time. Neville is gone from our sight but never from our hearts.

May his soul rest in prefect peace.

THE STAR

FEBRUARY 08, 2020

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11

“THE CHURCH MUST RE-THINK ITS THEOLOGICAL TEACHINGS AND PREACHING TO ADDRESS SOCIETAL ILLS”

By Seth Ampadu Superintendent Minister Methodist Church St. Lucia

B

y Amos 5: 21 “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.”

Too much religion, more evil! Too many churches in our society, more social ills! Has the church failed the society? Is the church losing its Impact and Influence in our society today?

Is the church’s preaching and teaching making an impact on the church-going populace in our society today to bring transformation?

There is no doubt that the church over the years has played a very significant role and continues to play a role in our society. Through the church, the society has been transformed in terms of its quality educational system, character formation, promotion of peace and tranquility in our society and the list could go on and on.

While these are areas of important impact made by

the church in times past, it seems to me that the church has not done enough in recent times to address the prevalent societal challenges. Challenges which are the manifestation primarily of neglect of parental responsibilities and include: indiscipline in our communities and on our roads, injustice, dishonesty at work places, immoral activities, excessive drunkenness, marital unfaithfulness, reckless driving on our roads, indecent dressing among some of our young people, drug menace, armed robbery, sexual immorality, and again the list could go on and on.

It appears that in recent times, the church has become too complacent and, in doing so, it has compromised its moral teachings and now “tastes like the world”. There is no doubt that the role of the church as the light of the world and the salt of the earth has become questionable, when it seems the majority of our society profess to be Christians.

Today, if truth be told, it is very difficult to differentiate

Rev. Seth Ampadu is calling on Christians to let their light shine and, in so doing, help address issues confronting society.

between a believer and a nonbeliever since both persons share and exhibit the same worldly values in their everyday social, public and private lives.

Our society is steeped in religious tradition, religious practice, religious systems, and religious rules and regulations; a society where it appears that every corner you pass you meet a church building yet, our religion is not penetrating

into our daily lives to make the society a more just society.

It is unfortunate that the same people who profess to be Christians and are deep in religious practices are still the same people who oppress their co-workers and ill-treat the poor and vulnerable in the society. They are the same people who do not take their work seriously, who practise corruption, go to work late and leave early; the same people who know the criminals in our society, but they shield them; the same people who see wrong and say nothing.

The truth is that our worship of God in the church must translate into our daily lives in order to impact our communities positively. True Christianity is when the people who follow Christ become and behave like the One we worship. Christianity is not just an act like bringing tithes and offerings or going to church every Sunday. It is a lifestyle!

The fact is, when the salt is worthless then the meat rots.

It decays. The question is: How many Christians in our society

today are Christians by name only?

It seems to me that most Christians in our society are very religious in terms of lip service and participation in divine ceremonies and sacraments, but very hypocritical in terms of practical demonstration of the Christian faith.

God wants holistic individuals and communities who see worship, prayer, fasting, etc., and justice, mercy and blessing going hand in hand.

True Christianity relates.

It is a relationship, not a set of rituals. True Christianity should impact lives. It changes our life and influences others. The true Christianity that pleases God is when we practise justice, when we love kindness and walk in humility. The church should be seen as a transforming agent to affect and infect our society in positive ways. The church is the salt and the light to liberate the society from oppression, injustice and abuse.

Christians in our society

must let their light shine. People are tired of hearing the gospel today in our society and they want to see the gospel reflected in our lives—‚reflecting in our work places, in our neighbourhood, in our homes, in our schools. The gospel should change the culture of impunity. It should change marriages. It should change medicine and health. It should change our attitude. If the gospel is not able to address our societal ills then I suggest the churches must re-think their theology to address the challenges facing the society.

In the New Testament era, the culture was lifted from the oppressive darkness, and light shone! The gospel produced salt and light, not the other way around!

I suggest that it is time for the churches to re-examine their theology and find a pragmatic way to help address issues confronting our society.

Theology is dynamic and not static. In every context, the gospel is potent enough to transform life and society in a positive way.

12 COMMENT

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

Loose Lips Sink and sometimes c I

t happened a long time ago, in the early 70s, shortly after the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia. I had been invited to make several guest bodybuilding appearances in Belgrade, Bratislava, Munich and some other East European venues with forgettable names.

At the time I was resident in the UK with two or three top European titles to my name.

Accompanying me on my tour was a former Mr. America with Yugoslav roots, named Ludwig Schusterich. At the recalled time he was the CEO at the English branch of Weider International.

Also with me was Bob Sweeney, owner of a chain of gyms in the north of England, a close friend and incorrigible prankster, and three gym buddies with their girlfriends whose identities I had better keep to myself.

For me one of the highlights of the politically eye-opening tour (grotesque reminders of the Soviet invasion littered the roadways, armed patrols and tanks everywhere) was my introduction in Belgrade to a self-declared Rick Wayne fan, in his mind a future champion in his own right. Within minutes of our meeting he volunteered to show Bob Sweeney and me around during our 3-day stay.

He had spent time in Southern California and quite obviously had given his heart to the City of Lost Angels. He spoke fluent English as happily he relived for our benefit his experiences at Venice Beach, in Santa Monica, and other locales familiar to bodybuilding fans everywhere, thanks to Muscle Builder, at the time the most popular of Joe Weider’s several publications.

What a name dropper was my

new acquaintance. His vivid recollections at times bordered on the phantasmagorical. By all he said, he had formed close ties with most of the Muscle Beach crowd, all of whom he referred to only by their first names.

He hardly mentioned his own city, not even its recent history—until my curiosity got the best of me during our final dinner together, when I asked him why every restaurant we’d visited featured a particular larger than life photograph or painting. “Oh,” he said, sotto voce, “that’s our great leader Marshall Tito.” He paused, scanned the room before adding under his breath: “Man, what a prick!”

When we were alone Bob and I had often discussed our friend’s East European accent with its curious hint of Texarkana. We imagined he’d picked it up from the several old Hollywood westerns he claimed to have seen countless times while growing up in Belgrade, featuring such stars as Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes, Tom Mix, Gary Cooper. We both were struck by how strong was his native sound when he identified his country’s leader—but not when he spoke that last sentence: Man, what a prick!

Pure Humphrey Bogart at his most menacing. The last word, especially.

During the time I lived in the U.K. it was quite uncommon to hear Londoners, even in halfway polite company, refer to an older person as “a prick.”

A disagreeable pensioner, for example, might be considered “an old fart.” Or “an old fogey.”

Or “an old geezer,” if he was someone’s grumpy grandad.

Never that other word!

Of course Bob and I had seen many magazine and newspaper images of Tito before our arrival in Belgrade.

But always he’d appeared to my young eyes not unlike a fossil, not nearly as vivant as depicted in those pictures that in Belgrade were ubiquitous. I returned to our friend’s favorite topic. He said he had twice been to the United States, both times to Los Angeles, and loved all he beheld. The general laid back attitude, the way he couldn’t tell rich from poor, that everyone had on blue jeans of various lengths, whether behind the wheel of a Porsche, a Volkswagen or aboard roller skates. He liked nothing better than dropping by the gyms for a workout or to gawk at the champions he recognized from their pictures in the magazines.

“So why didn’t you stay over there?” I teased. “Why did you return to beat-up old Belgrade?”

Feigning amazement at my question, he mimicked me: “Because in beat-up old Belgrade, Mr. Wayne, I have family.”

“You married?” He said he was not and wouldn’t be for the foreseeable future. An engineering student, he’d only recently turned twenty-two.

Again he lowered his voice: “Many of my friends wouldn’t be stuck here but for their relatives. Their parents, sisters, cousins, grandparents.” He paused, as if resurrecting a faded memory. “They’re all gonna die here,” he said, exactly like Gary Cooper in High Noon.

“I don’t get what you’re saying,” I persisted. “The young people don’t want to leave their

Who said it first?: The crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt persons and police officers! (Pictured left to right: former prime minister

relatives behind?”

He bowed his head, cupped his chin in his hands, elbows on either side of the bowl in front of him, eyes shut.

He took a deep breath, exhaled, turned to face me with eyes wide open. “We are permitted to leave but for only a few weeks at a time. Sometimes for a few days, depending on the situation. But staying away is out of the question.”

He still hadn’t said why.

Bob tried his luck. “What prevented you from staying in the States if you loved being over there as much as you say?”

He stopped eating, motioned with his head at the large painting on a wall left of where we were seated.

“Because if I did, gentlemen, he would kill all of my family,” he whispered, eyes focused on his barely touched goulash.

“He would murder them, one by one, until I decided to return.

And then I would be shot in front of my closest relatives

and others who might be thinking about leaving!” ` He recalled friends who had made the supreme sacrifice. Friends with whom he’d attended high school and college. Among them young women who now featured in the world’s leading fashion magazines, models with home addresses on New York’s east side. Some had made their way to Los Angeles— and Hollywood. He abruptly interrupted his reverie, asked politely to be excused. I watched as he headed toward the men’s room. Seconds earlier, even in a sitting position his shoulders appeared muscular, broad—and proud.

He held his chest up high. Now, he slouched. The regular spring in his walk had deserted. He seemed round-shouldered, weak in the knees. He dragged his feet. What a time for the devil in Bob Sweeney to show up.

“Listen,” hissed the devil, leaning over from the other side

of our table. “When he gets back I want you to tell him I’m a KGB agent based in London.”

“Why?" I asked.

“Never mind,” he chuckled. “Just do it and see what happens.”

We were digging into our mixedfruit dessert when I signaled a nearby waitress. Could I borrow her pen for a minute and a bit paper? While Bob pretended to poke around in his wallet, I scribbled: “Careful, what you say. Bob’s a spy for the Russians.” I surreptitiously lowered my hand and signaled with my eyes to our friend, at the same time nudging him with my left knee under the table. He caught on fast, grabbed the bit of paper, crumpled it in his fist, then without a word walked away from the table.

He had barely gone ten feet, when Bob let out a gurgling sound straight out of who the hell knows. Not loud, but loaded with mischief. At one point he grabbed his napkin, pressed it against his mouth to mute his laugh, then he dabbed the tears from his wicked blue eyes. He recovered suddenly, pretended to accidentally drop his napkin. I turned around to see our friend approaching. He appeared

THE STAR

FEBRUARY 08, 2020

k Ships . . . countries!

y corrupt politicians, government officials, business minister Kenny Anthony and Senator Mary Isaac.)

downcast. His Coppertoned features had undergone a sea change. Now he appeared ashen, his eyes dull, lips dry. As he took his seat next to me he seemed to be trembling.

“You all right?” I asked, genuinely concerned. He nodded, poked at his dessert but never once lifted his fork to his mouth. I sneaked a questioning glance at Bob. His new demeanor brought to mind a brat concerned that he may have taken his latest prank several irreversible steps too far, at possible great expense to a younger sibling.

I turned to face our friend, grabbed his shoulder and stuttered: “Loo-look, I was only pull-pulling your leg. Bob’s the owner of five gyms in the U.K., with no time for much else. He’s no spy.” Bob moved in to reassure him. “We were just kidding, like. Everything’s good.”

I couldn’t back in the day, and so many years later I still cannot find the words to properly describe the look that overtook our friend from Belgrade upon learning he’d been pranked. I’ve tried countless times since to picture myself gagged and strapped to that often visited

proverbial harder place, unable to move a muscle. Meanwhile a monster rock is rolling downhill straight at me. I close my eyes, convinced I’m about to take my final breath. But nothing happens. I can’t believe what I see when hesitantly I open my eyes: the assumed unstoppable force has come to a dead halt mere inches from me. I’m alive!

I’ve been given another shot at life. That’s about as close as I can come to explaining how I imagine it must’ve been for our young friend in Belgrade.

I still can see him at that packed restaurant so many years ago, my left hand gripping his right shoulder, Bob desperately trying to undo what he’d inspired, doing his utmost to convince our friend that everything he’d told us about life under Tito would always be strictly between us. I still can feel the young man shaking all over nevertheless.

As I write a politician is on the radio telling the nation that the government intends

COMMENT

www.stluciastar.com

to permit sick Chinese visitors to participate in a horse race scheduled for February 22— Independence Day. At time of writing the government has issued no such statement.

I am reminded that while preparations for last year’s inaugural race were underway, the same politician and others connected to his party were all over the Internet spreading outrageous propaganda, including that three imported thoroughbred horses stabled in Vieux Fort had died from unspecified diseases—all of it calculated fake news. As I write a recent statement by a senator at a vigil related to the murder of a friend and party colleague is being weaponized by the government’s opposition. The senator’s expressed disturbing remarks are in tune with highly publicized extremely sensitive revelations by a former prime minister. I refer here to the so-called IMPACS report, a large portion of which was broadcast to the world on the evening of 8 March 2015, this included: “I can report that the findings of the investigators are extremely damning. I will state some of these findings tonight to bring home to you the e xtreme gravity of this matter.

These findings relate not only to those officers who were involved in the operations but additionally members of the high command of the police force who may have been involved in covering up matters . . . More alarmingly, the investigators report all the shootings reviewed were fake encounters staged by the police to legitimize their actions.”

Additionally: “Revealingly, the report suggests that the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians, government officials, business persons and police officers!”

In October 2018 the wife of a ranking police officer connected with the report was fatally shot at home. While there have been no arrests, the victim’s husband has hinted at assassination possibly related to some of the public statements by the prime

minister in 2015.

Could the senator too have been thinking about the IMPACS report when at the earlier cited vigil she declared: “Crime is big business in Saint Lucia. It is big business in this country. It is big business and it is driven by people way up in the hierarchy of this country. These are the people that pay people to kill people . . . They [young citizens] need to stop killing each other.

They are not the real problem; they are just the result of the problem. It is the people who are financing crime . . . who are sending young people to commit crime . . . who must pay. People think that when they do things in the dark it won’t come out . . . but somebody will pay for what happened to . . .”

When it comes to the facilitators of crime in our country, there is little difference between what a former prime minister told the world in 2015 and what the senator said at the recalled recent vigil. In 2018, Kenny Anthony warned sitting Prime Minister Chastanet that should he carry out his stated promise to investigate the Grynberg issue he, the former PM, “will personally make sure you reap the whirlwind!”

To date, there has been no further word on the matter from Chastanet!

Trust Oscar Wilde to offer the following improvement on Voltaire’s gem: “I may not agree with you but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.” Rather than seeking remedies for what’s killing Saint Lucia, some of the nation’s leading citizens are busily exercising the right attributed to them by the revered author of The Importance of Being Earnest.

I take this opportunity yet again to implore them not to take for granted our rights and freedoms. To paraphrase the social activist Naomi Klein: “Free speech is meaningless if the political cacophony has risen to the point where no one can hear you.” I know my friend in Belgrade would readily agree!

13

GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, PORTS, ENERGY AND LABOUR

MILLENNIUM HIGHWAY AND WEST COAST ROAD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT PROJECT COORDINATOR - UNITED KINGDOM CARIBBEAN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERSHIP FUND (UKCIF) GENERAL PROCUREMENT NOTICE The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has applied for financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) – United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) towards the cost of Millennium Highway and West Coast Road Reconstruction Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments by CDB will be made only at the request of GOSL and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purposes of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOSL shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The following consultancy assignment will be procured under the project: (a) Engineering Consultancy Services for the supervision

of and certification of the infrastructure works ; (b) Consultancy Services for the completion of A Road

Sector Policy and Strategy; (c) Consultancy Services for the Development and Implementation of a Road Safety Awareness

Communication Campaign; and (d) Consultancy Services for the completion a Business Development and Life Skills Programme for Project affected Persons.

It is expected that these will be procured during the period January 2020 to April 2020.

The following works will be procured under the project: (e) Construction Works: Rehabilitation of 6.1 km of the

Millennium Highway; (f) Construction Works: Rehabilitation of 11.1 km of road

from Cul De Sac and the Anse La Raye Bridge; and (g) Construction Works: Rehabilitation of 23 km of road

between Anse la Raye and Soufriere.

It is expected that these will be procured during the period March 2020 to May 2020.

Consultants and Contractors from member countries of CDB will be eligible to participate in these procurement opportunities.

The Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy (DIPE), through the Project Management Unit (PMU) is the Executing Agency for the project. Further details of the project can be obtained by contacting the first address below.

1.

Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy Union Complex Union Castries, Saint Lucia Telephone: (758) 468-4300/(758) 468-4350 Fax: (758) 453-2769

14 LOCAL

Taiwan Technical Mission and Ministry of Agriculture hold successful Farmers' Market in Dennery

T

he Taiwan Technical Mission, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives, hosted the first Farmers' Market of 2020 in Dennery at the Agricultural Extension office on Wednesday January 29.

FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Farmers from all over the region came to sell their produce. Many brought fruits and vegetables like lettuce, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, plantains, citrus and other root crops; some sold vegan cakes and baked goods, ice cream, sorbets, local wines and honey.

The highlight of the event showcased the Clendon Mason Secondary School whose students distributed goods that they themselves had produced. The food and nutrition students, together with Mrs. Ram, made creative dishes such as watermelon lemonade, pineapple upside-down cake,

cabbage spring rolls, lettuce tacos, pineapple jam drops, and chocolate-covered fruits. The students had an enjoyable day, attracting a large crowd who patronized the school's booth. Other students also came to the Farmers' Market to show their support and school spirit.

In addition to the sale of goods, the Ministry of Health provided the residents of Dennery with free health checks: blood

GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA SETTLEMENT UPGRADING PROJECT DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, URBAN RENEWAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS INVITATION FOR BIDS

The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) has received financing from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in an amount equivalent to USD6,233,000 towards the cost of the Settlement Upgrading Project and intends to apply a portion of the proceeds of this financing to eligible payments under a contract for which this invitation is issued. Payments

by CDB will be made only at the request of GOSL and upon approval by CDB, and will be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Financing Agreement. The Financing Agreement prohibits withdrawal from the financing account for the purpose of any payment to persons or entities, or for any import of goods, if such payment or import, to the knowledge of CDB, is prohibited by a decision of the United Nations Security Council taken under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. No party other than GOSL shall derive any rights from the Financing Agreement or have any claim to the proceeds of the Financing.

The Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Development, Housing, Urban Renewal, Transport and Civil Aviation’s Programme for the Regularisation of Unplanned Developments (PROUD) within the Department of Housing, Urban Renewal and Telecommunications.

The PROUD has contracted a Consultant who will assist PROUD with delivering the Project. The Consultants have prepared designs and contract documentation and will assist in tender administration and evaluation and supervise Project Activities.

The PROUD now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders to undertake any combination of the following works; 1. Lot 1: Construction of Residential Accesses and Drains at Bexon

Phase 1, Contract No. /SUP 53/SFR – OR – STL (P1A) 2. Lot 2: Construction of Residential Accesses and Drains at Bexon

Phase 2, Contract No. /SUP 53/SFR – OR – STL (P1B) 3. Lot 3: Construction of Residential Accesses and Drains at Bexon

Phase 3, Contract No. /SUP 53/SFR – OR – STL (P1C)

Consideration will be limited to firms or joint ventures of firms, which are legally incorporated or otherwise organised in, and have their principal place of business in an eligible country and are either; 1. more than 50% beneficially owned by a citizen or citizens and/

or a bona fide resident or residents of an eligible country, or by

a body corporate or bodies corporate meeting these requirements; or 2. owned or controlled by the Government of an eligible country provided that it is legally and financially autonomous and operated under the commercial law of an eligible country

and otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of the CDB Guidelines

for Procurement (2006).

Eligible countries are member countries of CDB.

Eligible bidders will be required to submit full qualification information with their bids establishing their eligibility to bid and qualifications to perform the contract if the bid is accepted. Tender and qualifications information are to be submitted in the English language on the prescribed forms inserted in the Bid Documents. Submissions that do not provide the information required, or do not demonstrate the prospective contractor’s ability to perform satisfactorily, will not qualify and will not be considered for evaluation.

Qualification requirements include, inter alia: 1) An average annual turnover (defined as certified payments received

for works in progress or completed) within the last five (5) years of:

a) Lot 1: XCD1,300,000.00;

b) Lot 2: XCD1,300,000.00;

c) Lot 3: XCD1,000,000.00;

2) A demonstrable cash flow (including access to credit) of:

a) Lot 1: XCD300,000.00;

b) Lot 2: XCD300,000.00;

c) Lot 3: XCD200,000.00; 3) Experience as prime contractor in the construction of at least two (2) assignments of a nature, scope and complexity comparable to the proposed works within the last six (6) years (to comply with this requirement, works quoted should be at least 80 percent complete). Subcontract work and labour only contracts shall not qualify.

4) Experience in the construction of roads (bituminous surfacing dressing, asphaltic concrete & concrete) base and experience in the construction of earthen and reinforced concrete drains.

The Bidding Document may be obtained by eligible bidders from the following address below for a non-refundable fee of XCD300: The Project Coordinator Department of Housing, Urban Renewal and Telecommunications 7th Floor Conway Business Centre Cnr. John Compton Highway & Jn. Baptiste Street Castries ST. LUCIA, W.I Telephone: 1-758 468-2600/2609 Facsimile number: 1-758 452-1838 Email: cuthbert.mcdiarmed@govt.lc Requests must be made by written application including email.

Written applications must be clearly marked: “SUP (NCB) - Request for Bidding Documents for the Construction of Residential Accesses, Drains and Footpaths, Lot 1 to 3”, along with the name, address and contact information of the bidder for which Bidding Documents are being requested. Payment should be by wire transfer, bank draft or bank guaranteed cheque made payable to Accountant General.

Information to pay by wire transfer can be obtained from the Project Coordinator, whose address is above.

Applicants who request that documents be forwarded to them must submit an account number from a local courier agent that accepts freight collect charges. Documents will be promptly dispatched, but under no circumstance will PROUD or their authorised agent be held responsible for late delivery or loss of the documents so transmitted.

Submissions in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Bid for the Settlement Upgrading Project (NCB) – Construction of Residential Accesses, Drains and Footpaths (Lot 1 or Lot 2 or Lot 3 or any combination)”, must be received at the address address below no later than 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Bid opening will take place at 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at the address below in the presence of bidders representatives who choose to attend.

The Chairperson Central Tender’s Board Department of Finance, Economic Affairs and Social Security Financial Administrative Centre Point Seraphine Castries ST. LUCIA, W.I

All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security of Ten Thousand Eastern Caribbean Dollars (XCD10,000.00) for any Combination of Lots.

The PROUD reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, and to terminate the process and reject all bids, at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected prospective bidder(s) or any obligation to inform the affected prospective bidder(s) of the grounds for the PROUD action. The PROUD will not defray any costs incurred by any bidder in the preparation of bids.

pressure testing, blood sugar testing and weight monitoring. Individuals were then given advice on how to improve or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The event also attracted the attention of the Communications Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, whose staff went around interviewing participants of the Farmers' Market including the Project Co-ordinator, Taiwanese volunteers, farmers and students. The interviews will be aired on local television. This type of interview brings awareness to the project but also conveys the feelings of the participants.

On the fun side, the Farmers' Market had two watermelon-eating competitions, one for primary school students and the other for secondary school students. The first place winners were awarded selected fruits, and all participants were given T-shirts.

Certain farmers at the Farmers' Market received prizes for being the earliest and most productive participants. Each of the farmers expressed their appreciation for the event and their willingness to attend future markets.

The next Farmers' Market will be held at Constitution Park on Friday February 28. Everyone is invited to come and support our local farmers and receive some free samples of their value-added goods.

Outbreak of Coronavirus in China highlights importance of Taiwan’s participation in WHO’s global efforts to fight cross-border pandemics

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irus knows neither border nor politics. As the world gears up to manage and control the spread of the deadly coronavirus originated from Wuhan, China, the exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO poses a serious loophole in the global efforts to tackle such an urgent health crises.

As the coronavirus spreads to all parts of China, 55-plus major metropolises and 3 provinces there have already been sealed off. China’s government has been criticised by the international community for its tardy and opaque handling of the outbreak.

However, China still tries to block the world health body and other countries from accurately evaluating the situation and taking timely measure. Worse still, China also uses its political influence to block the Taiwanese health officials and experts from access to vital information about this new type of pandemic.

Taiwan has successfully implemented Universal Health Care (UHC) and is capable and willing to contribute to global health security, as is demonstrated by its medical cooperation with Saint Lucia over the years and the recent cooperation between the two countries in taking appropriate measures to manage the outbreak of Wuhan Coronavirus. Taiwan’s pragmatic and constructive participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as well as other WHO mechanisms, meetings and activities will advance the right to health and wellbeing of people around the world.

I would also like to thank the Honourable Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and the Government of Saint Lucia for the statement in support of Taiwan’s WHO bid on the occasion of the Wuhan Coronavirus outbreak, which “urgently calls on the WHO, as a matter of urgency, to ensure that there is the full involvement of the Taiwanese authorities in the international consultations, planning and decision making to monitor, control and ultimately halt the further spread of the coronavirus.”

H. E. Douglas C. T. Shen Ambassador Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

THE STAR

Unicomer Group to host 10th Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition finals

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ull preparations are underway as the Unicomer Group makes arrangements for the 10th staging of the Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition. Six finalists will vie for the coveted title of Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition Champion and the cash prize of EC$5,000 plus a laptop from the Unicomer Group, along with other prizes from the event’s sponsors.

The Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition is one of the company’s main Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives,

presented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and is focused on literacy and oral reading. Ms. Keneene Betty, Brand Manager and Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator for the OECS, stated, “The Unicomer Group is extremely proud of this initiative as we continue to highlight the importance of literacy in the OECS. As an organisation, one of our core goals is to have a positive impact in the communities in which we operate and this initiative is one way that we ensure that we live

this legacy.”

The Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition is held annually in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and Saint Lucia.

The competition starts within the schools; winners move to the district and national levels, and the competetion culminates in the OECS finals.

The finals of Courts OECS Schools Reading Competition will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at the Sandals Grande Resort and Spa.

WORLD CANCER DAY

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he global community commemorated World Cancer Day on February 4, 2020 with the slogan “I Am and I Will”.

Cancer can be prevented and controlled by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention; screening and early detection; treatment and care that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with cancer.

The risk factors for cancer, and also the four shared risk factors for other noncommunicable diseases, are: • Tobacco use

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• Unhealthy diet • Alcohol use • Lack of physical activity including exercise

In Saint Lucia, the data profile shows cancer as the number one cause of death (229 - 21%). This profile also revealed that women lost more years of living than men to cancer. (CMO Report 2017).

To further highlight the day, the Department of Health and Wellness encouraged everyone to actively join in the campaign by wearing a colour which represents a cancer that has affected a family member or close friend.

Additionally, all were asked to make a commitment to engage in one positive healthy lifestyle activity on World Cancer Day, e.g.: • No added sugar • Add 10 minutes to your regular workout • No tobacco use • Drink more water • Get the recommended eight hours of sleep

Cancer can affect anyone, but can be prevented, or its impact reduced, if we actively engage in healthy lifestyle activities.

For more information contact the Bureau of Health Education, telephone 468-5349.

Good Governance is Good Business, says Antigua PM Gaston Browne

he Caribbean Governance Training Institute (CGTI) started its 2020 calendar of events in Antigua at the end of January, with the launch of a new Risk Committee Certification programme.

In the past seven years CGTI has become the gold standard for governance training in the region, with more than eighty per cent market share and a growing cadre of high-profile graduates from commercial, financial and public service organisations.

The most recent addition to CGTI’s governance curriculum was created as a response to Antigua’s State Insurance Company Ltd., which encouraged the team to create a Risk Management programme. The resulting two-day event saw the participation of fifty delegates from organisations including the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, other financial institutions and credit unions, and numerous board members from throughout the Caribbean region.

By definition, the ‘Risk Committee’ is responsible for the risk management policies of an

organisation, and has oversight of the operational risk management framework.

Executive Chairman of CGTI, Dr. Chris Bart, was on hand to deliver the Risk Committee Certification course, which he stated is the first of its kind in the Caribbean.

“We applaud the State Insurance Company Ltd. for inspiring the creation of this unique programme, and partnering with CGTI to make it a reality,” Dr. Bart continued, “We are especially proud that their entire board has completed our flagship ‘Chartered Director’ programme, making them one of the best-governed organisations in the Caribbean region.”

Showing his support for improving governance through expert training, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, also attended on the first day of CGTI’s newest programme, and his response reinforced the feelings of many delegates.

According to Mr. Browne: "Good governance is good business, and in today's global competitive environment, leaders with the right tools are paramount to

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020

achieving sustained superior performance for any organisation.

Dr. Bart and his team have certainly brought significant experience and expertise to bear on the issues of corporate governance—including risk management in an organisational setting—while providing a toolkit of strategies that will, once utilized effectively, strengthen the governance systems of any organisation.”

During the first week of February the team from Caribbean Governance Training Institute has been conducting its Financial Literacy programme, Human Resources and Compensation Committee Certification programme and the Chairman’s programme in St. Kitts, while the rest of 2020 sees an expanded calendar of governance training programmes in Turks and Caicos, Barbados, BVI and Trinidad.

The next Risk Committee Certification programme will be July 9-10, 2020 in CGTI’s home base of Saint Lucia. Please visit caribbeangovernancetraining. com for more information and to register for upcoming events.

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Employment Opportunity

Environmental Projects Coordinator – Saint Lucia Hospitality & Tourism Association Applications are invited from highly motivated, energetic, experienced and suitably qualified candidates for the post of Environmental Projects Coordinator at the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA). As the principal tourism private sector agency in St. Lucia, the SLHTA is responsible for facilitating tourism sector development and management in St. Lucia. The SLHTA is a private non-profit membership organization that functions as the “official organization and national spokesperson” for the hospitality Industry and its wide membership.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES The successful applicant will be responsible for the delivery of project activities including (but not limited to): Hotel Sector Engagement: • assess current sustainability practices in the hospitality and tourism sector by personal visits and interviews with SLHTA members and prepare detailed summary report of the status quo • based on these findings identify areas where individual members and entire industry could further improve on sustainability practices • Engaging and motivating the hotel sector to embed sustainability into their practices and to participate in project activities (i.e. training, case studies, etc).

• Support engagement of hotels in the Environmental Committee of the SLHTA, through supporting the organization of meetings, communication and follow-up with members.

Capacity Building and events: • Delivering training on project data monitoring tool and support hotels to use them • Organizing and delivering workshops/training including organizing venues and catering services, printing materials and liaising with participants • Support hotels committed to the project to collect data and implement action • Follow-up on delivered training with participants’ hotels to understand the impacts of training Data collection: • Liaising directly with operational staff from the accommodation sector to encourage the collection of data and information sharing • Collecting project monitoring and evaluation data • Collating information, data and reports Communications activities: • Implementation of an awareness campaign against single use plastics by disseminating project materials in events and through identified channels.

• Developing case studies to showcase successful stories of action implementation and project stories.

• Participate in local events to disseminate the Action Plan within the hotel and relevant sectors.

General: • Producing high quality reports • Setting up meetings and drafting minutes • Managing expenses and project finances • Maintaining regular communication with project stakeholders • Supporting in the implementation of other project activities as required by project partners Along with the main duties outlined above, you will also be expected to carry out any other duties that are reasonably asked of you.

Person Specification Essential Criteria • At least 3 years’ experience in a project support role • Experience in sustainability, resource efficiency and data collection (i.e. energy, waste) • Strong reporting, administrative and organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize and complete a variety of tasks with minimal supervision to tight deadlines • Ability to be self-directed and autonomous, as well as working as part of team • Strong computer literacy (including: Word, Excel and PowerPoint) • Fluent (spoken and written) in English • Flexibility to travel nationally to visit hotels and partners around the island • Access to a vehicle • Immediate availability Desirable Criteria • Tourism-related work experience and network • Experience of event management / logistical coordination • A confident person with excellent interpersonal skills Deadline for submission

Thursday 20th February 2020.

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

THE STAR FEBRUARY 08, 2020

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DRAGON CAGED

he Dragon deal, a US$1 billion natural-gas-sharing arrangement between TT and Venezuela, is on hold. The reason, the prime minister said in his keynote address at the 2020 Energy Conference at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, is US economic sanctions against the South American country.

TT and Venezuela signed a governmentto-government agreement, to much fanfare, in August 2018, as well as a term sheet agreement between the commercial partners, energy giant Shell, Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, and TT’s National Gas Company (NGC). Since then, the details of the commercial agreement were being hammered out, with hopes for first gas as early as next year.

Dr Rowley expressed regret that the deal was on hold, but added, “At a moment’s notice we are ready to move ahead with the project on the lifting of such restrictions.”

The agreement would have seen gas from Venezuela’s Dragon Field—about 150 million standard cubic feet a day—Imported through a billion-dollar pipeline to the Hibiscus Gas Platform off the northwest coast of TT. The platform is jointly owned by TT government, the National Gas Company (NGC) and Shell.

The deal would have resulted in a boost in TT’s gas supply, as government aimed to expand domestic gas production by 4.14 Bcf/d (billion cubic feet per day) by next year.

It would also have been used to develop more petrochemical products, which include everything from plastics and rubber to detergents and pesticides.

Access to Dragon Field gas is not the only thing being hindered by the US sanctions against the Venezuelan government. Talks between TT and Venezuela to jointly develop the Loran-Manatee gas field, which sits on the TT/Venezuela maritime border, were also impeded. Rowley said it came at a great cost to oil and gas giant Shell, which has a 60 per cent interest in the field.

Because of the sanctions, both TT and Venezuela were forced to end talks to jointly develop the field. Each government agreed to develop the field on the Loran-Manatee border independently. Shell is the operator for the whole field, which has approximately 10 trillion cubic feet of gas, 25 per cent of which is within TT waters (Manatee).

Rowley called the Manatee initiative “the single most significant development in the energy sector in recent times”. He said the policy shift would free up investment and development of the field and provide easy access to the market for gas.

“This has implications for development for other cross-border fields, such as the Manakin-Cocuina and Kapok-Dorado, which collectively have an estimated 850 billion cubic feet of natural gas within the TT maritime area. The achievement of this agreement is a reflection of positive initiatives being undertaken by government to meet domestic gas requirements for

REGIONAL

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competitive energy, and our retention of a place in the petrochemical and LNG business for some considerable time to come.”

While the region still struggles with energy, with some countries paying US$0.20 and US$0.37 per kilowatt per hour (TT has some of the lowest rates in the region, at US$0.06), Rowley said Caribbean countries have begun to embrace the idea of renewable energy. The region, he said, has untapped potential for renewable energy which, if if harnessed, would displace approximately 2.7 million barrels of oil per year and save Caribbean countries US$5.0 billion in fuel imports annually.

Rowley also pointed out the potential for deep water exploration for hydrocarbons, as only 31 per cent of deep-water areas have been explored. He announced an upcoming deepwater bid-round for 2020/2021.

“The (Energy Ministry) has been acquiring extensive seismic data over the deepwater area to facilitate meaningful evaluation of the deepwater blocks.”

-Trinidad and Tobago Newsday See lead story of today’s The STAR Businessweek.

NEW SAMSUNG 50 inch UHD Smart TV

EC$2,500.00 OR BEST OFFER

TEL:

17

We are the largest retailer in the region, offering many opportunities for growth and development and are looking for a talented and dedicated individual to become part of our dynamic team.

OECS Ready Cash Microfinance Chain Manager THE POSITION:

Unicomer (OECS), is recruiting a talented business professional with experience in the SME space to join its senior leadership team in St Lucia. Reporting to the OECS Managing Director, the incumbent will be responsible for the leadership and expansion of the Ready Cash and Micro loans operations for the six islands of the OECS region. The incumbent is responsible for strategy as well as implementation of innovative and responsive solutions aimed at increasing the size of the Ready Cash and Microloan portfolios.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plan and lead Consumer and Micro Loans strategy implementation and execution in the six OECS countries, in order to ensure results, key metrics and a competitive, high quality offering in each country.

• Develop the annual strategy, action plans and budgets for the OECS and drive implementation at the country and sub region level; with a strong focus on goal achievement, profitability and portfolio quality, in line with regional/corporate mandates.

• Continuously review and monitor portfolio to ensure quality, compliance with all legislative framework, goal achievement and profitability, and work closely with the country teams to implement appropriate actions to deliver results.

• Develop Ready Cash and Micro Loans campaigns and in collaboration with marketing, ensure seamless implementation of agreed marketing strategies in each country, in order to achieve business results.

• Spearhead training and development of Micro Finance Officers in lending methodology and principles, and to undertake appropriate analyses to deliver quality loans.

• Administration and use of appropriate tools and software to execute effectively.

• Be cognizant of, alert to, and handle operational issues relating to AML/ATF in line with regulatory requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Graduate Degree in Business Administration or Finance • Three (3) years’ experience in consumer finance within a large consumer financing environment and at a mid to senior management level.

• Demonstrated abilities in both mass and consultative selling.

• A sound understanding of credit granting and debt collections practices to optimize and sustain portfolio performance.

• Enhanced interpersonal, communication and influencing skills. Personal integrity and sound ethics.

• Strong analytical skills, having the ability to analyze and interpret financial data and make appropriate recommendations and decisions to deliver outcomes.

Full competency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Demonstrated leadership competency with strong commercial acumen and a business development mind-set.

• Entrepreneurial orientation; being willing to embrace and take initiatives to land new business solutions.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES PLEASE EMAIL YOUR COVER LETTER AND CV TO:

regional_hr@unicomer.com

384 5130

ON OR BEFORE MONDAY 10TH FEBRUARY, 2020

733 4232

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

or

18 INTERNATIONAL

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THE FUNNIES!

FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

Not guilty: Senate acquits Trump of impeachment charges

President Donald Trump holds up a newspaper with the headline “Trump acquitted” during the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast, at the Washington Hilton, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)

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resident Donald Trump won impeachment acquittal in the U.S. Senate, bringing to a close only the third presidential trial in American history with votes that split the country, tested civic norms and fed the tumultuous 2020 race for the White House.

With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, senators sworn to do “impartial justice” stood and stated their votes for the roll call—“guilty” or “not guilty”—in a swift tally almost exclusively along party lines. Trump, the chief justice then declared, shall “be, and is hereby, acquitted of the charges.”

The outcome Wednesday followed months of remarkable impeachment proceedings, from Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s House to Mitch McConnell’s Senate, reflecting the nation’s unrelenting partisan divide three years into the Trump presidency.

What started as Trump’s request for Ukraine to “do us a favor” spun into a far-reaching, 28,000-page report compiled by House investigators accusing an American president of engaging in shadow diplomacy that threatened U.S. foreign

relations for personal, political gain as he pressured the ally to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden ahead of the next election.

A politically emboldened Trump had eagerly predicted vindication, deploying the verdict as a political anthem in his reelection bid. The president claims he did nothing wrong, decrying the “witch hunt” as an extension of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian 2016 campaign interference by those out to get him from the start of his presidency.

Trump’s political campaign tweeted videos, statements and a cartoon dance celebration, while the Republican president himself tweeted that he would speak Thursday from the White House about “our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax.”

However, the Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said there will always be “a giant asterisk next to the president’s acquittal” because of the Senate’s quick trial and Republicans’ unprecedented rejection of witnesses.

A majority of senators expressed unease with Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine that resulted in the two articles

of impeachment. But twothirds of them would have had to vote “guilty” to reach the Constitution’s bar of high crimes and misdemeanors to convict and remove Trump from office. The final tallies in the GOP-held Senate fell far short.

On the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, the vote was 52-48 favoring acquittal. The second, obstruction of Congress, also produced a not guilty verdict, 53-47. Only one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, the party’s defeated 2012 presidential nominee, broke with the GOP.

Romney choked up as he said he drew on his faith and “oath before God” to vote guilty on the first charge, abuse of power. He voted to acquit on the second.

All Democrats found the president guilty on the two charges.

Both Bill Clinton in 1999 and Andrew Johnson in 1868 drew cross-party support when they were left in office after impeachment trials.

Richard Nixon resigned rather than face sure impeachment, expecting members of his own party to vote to remove him.

--Associated Press

THE STAR

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FEBRUARY 08, 2020

‘To put it bluntly, we’re shadow boxing,’ WHO official says of coronavirus fight

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here’s still a lot we don’t know,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, directorgeneral of the World Health Organization, said Thursday of the coronavirus outbreak that has spread to more than 28,000 people and killed 565 since its discovery in Wuhan, China, about five weeks ago. While scientists have made progress in sequencing the virus’s DNA and generally know how it is transmitted, he said they still don’t know the source of the outbreak or its natural host, have a vaccine or treatment, “and we don’t properly understand its transmissibility or severity.”

“To put it bluntly, we’re shadow boxing,” Tedros said at a news conference at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva. “We need to bring this virus out into the light so we can attack it properly.”

WHO is convening a two-day global research and innovation forum next week to share research and ideas on how to combat the virus, he said. Tedros has pleaded for “solidarity” among member countries, including asking for donations to help with outbreak response efforts.

WHO said it tapped $9 million from its contingency fund for emergencies and sent medical supplies such as masks, gloves, gowns and diagnostic tests around the world. The agency is requesting $675 million to fund WHO operations and outbreak support. So far, the agency has received donations from

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the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and from Japan, Tedros said. WHO expects more announcements on funding in the “coming days,” Tedros said.

“Every dollar counts.”

Since emerging in Wuhan about a month ago, the virus has spread from about 300 people as of Jan. 21 to more than 28,000—with the number of new cases growing by the thousands every day. The virus appears to be particularly troublesome for older people and those with underlying health conditions, health officials said. Symptoms can include a sore throat, runny nose, fever or pneumonia and can progress all the way to multiple organ failure or death in some severe cases, they said.

Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s emergencies program, said Thursday that it’s “too early” to know when the virus will peak, adding that “we need to be very careful on making any predictions.”

Ryan said the overall number of confirmed cases in China dropped in the last day for the first time since the outbreak began.

“It doesn’t mean anything, but at least we’re not going in the wrong direction,” he said. “There are cycles of transmission, and we may see those cases increase in the coming days, but at least for the moment, things are stable.” Many public health officials across the world have questioned the accuracy of China’s data.

---CNBC

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HOW YOGA HAS HELPED ME

have been asked many times what yoga has done to help me. Yoga is my life, not just as a physical practice but also mentally and spiritually. It is the way that I think, live, eat and look at life. It’s the way that I see others. It has made me realize that in our material world we look in all the wrong places to find peace of mind and joy. Happiness isn’t in the material world that our society worships; happiness comes from within. And yoga helps me to look within.

Yoga has taught me and given me the strength to know that if I really want something, that with focus and discipline, I can achieve anything. It has made me realize how strong I really am.

Yoga has helped to balance my emotional stability, my insecurities and has taught me to look back on my life and the things that happened to me in the past, especially the really emotional times. They have been the best lessons that I have learned in life. The times when I felt as though the world was crashing down around me

were actually gifts from the universe, from which I learned so much.

Yoga has helped me to calm the thoughts (samskaras and vrttis) which constantly run through my brain—thoughts that we all experience in our daily lives. We’re told that human beings have 50,000 to 70,000 thoughts per day. Yoga and the breath teach us to calm the mind and those thousands of thoughts. It’s not easy; it takes time, discipline and the courage to let go.

Physically, yoga has made me stronger and more flexible which helps me to move about with a lighter sense of being, and this has enhanced my balance physically and mentally.

It has made me a more empathetic person—more understanding of other people’s opinions, ideas and actions.

It has guided me to look inward. I am much more patient with myself and others.

I practise the yoga of Ahimsa—non-violence—which means that I look at life in a more compassionate way.

Jill Hagar is a certified instructor of Iyengar Yoga and a certified International Yoga Therapist. She holds regular Yoga classes at Harmony Suites in Rodney Bay.

For more information about classes please contact Jill by phone or WhatsApp on (758) 718 1297 or by email on yogastlucia@gmail.com

SAINT LUCIA DENIES ENTRY OF SHIP BASED ON HEALTH CONCERNS

n Saturday February 1, 2020 the Department of Health and Wellness, in collaboration with stakeholders, made the decision to deny entry into Saint Lucia of a cruise ship scheduled to berth here.

This decision was taken after review of the ship’s Health Declaration which indicated a high number of persons with upper respiratory tract infection over a period of four days.

The Department of Health and Wellness was guided by sound public health principles and ensured that the necessary guidelines and protocols were followed. In addition, the

necessary assessment was carried out and humanitarian support granted.

Saint Lucia will continue to work in partnership with the cruise line and the tourism sector to strengthen the mutually beneficial relations.

The Department of Health and Wellness took the necessary decision out of caution for human health and safety. Passengers on the ship were not allowed into the country. The Department will continue working to strengthen its National Preparedness Plans and will provide further updates in the coming weeks.

Due to the novelty of

this coronavirus, the World Health Organization and other international partners continue to investigate and provide guidance to the international community.

The Department of Health and Wellness also maintains communication with its regional partners and will continue to provide the public with information as it becomes available.

In the interim, the public is asked to continue practising the standard recommendations to prevent the spread of infection.

These include: - regular hand washing with soap and water, or alcohol-

based hand sanitizer where soap and water is not available; - cover mouth and nose with disposable tissues or clothing when coughing and sneezing; - avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing; - seek medical attention and share your travel history with your health care provider if you have symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness either during or after travel.

For more information please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer on 4685309 or the Epidemiology Unit, on 468-5325.

health

19

TENDER NOTICE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS AND NATIONAL SECURITY

INVITATION FOR TENDERS PROVISION OF INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE ROYAL SAINT LUCIA POLICE FORCE PUBLIC STOCK OF ASSETS The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) invites tenders for the provision of Insurance Coverage for RSLPF Public Stock of Assets, which includes Motor Vehicles, Motor Cycles, ATV’s, Marine Property and Marine Vessels. Also required are Personal Accident Insurance for all Police Officers.

Insurance coverage is required for a period of two (2) years commencing April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022.

Insurance Companies interested in participating in the bidding process are required to attach the following documents along with their bids: 1) A compliance certificate or letter of good standing from

the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA); 2) A copy of the company’s most recent international

financial strength rating; 3) Brief history and experience of providing similar

coverage to other Public or Commercial organizations; Any Insurance Broker making a submission needs to provide: a) A valid copy of their Professional Indemnity Insurance; and b) Must only recommend one Insurer or Agent in their submission Type of Insurance Coverage Required 1) Motor Vehicle Insurance - Comprehensive and/or Third Party; 2) Motor Cycle Insurance - Comprehensive and/or Third Party Marine – Property Damage All Risk Cover

including but not limited to:Accidental damage, Fire, Lightning, Explosion, Riot and Strike, Malicious Damage, Hurricane, Earthquake, Flood, Burst Pipe, Aircraft Damage, Impact Damage, Bush Fire, Spontaneous Combustion, Smoke Damage, Cyclone, Volcanic Eruption, Tornado, Typhoon, Tempest, Subterranean Fire, Storm, Full Flood, Over flow of the sea, Burglary and attempted theft, Threats, Damage to Plate Glass, Collapse due to subsidence land slip.

3) Marine Vessels – Hull and Liability Insurance; 4) Personal Accident Coverage for Drivers, Riders and

operators of 1,2 and 3 above; 5) Personal Accident Coverage for one thousand, one

hundred and seventy police officers.

Details of the Motor Vehicles, Motor Cycles, ATV’s, Marine Vessels and Property to be insured can be obtained from the Permanent Secretary, Department of Home Affairs and National Security, Ground Floor, Sir Stanislaus James Building, the Waterfront, Castries or the Administrative Officer, Royal St. Lucia Police Force, Bridge Street, Castries.

Tenders should be submitted no later than 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday February 26, 2020 in a sealed enveloped clearly marked “Tender for the provision of Insurance Coverage for the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force Public Stock of Assets” and addressed to: THE SECRETARY CENTRAL TENDERS BOARD DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION CENTRE 2nd FLOOR, POINTE SERAPHINE

20 SPORTS

FEBRUARY 08, 2020 THE STAR

www.stluciastar.com

Athletes shortlisted for Annual National Sports Awards

Vino Barclette: Sportsman of the Year nominee.

Kerin Neptune: Sportswoman of the Year nominee.

Shem Maxwell: Sportswoman of the Year nominee.

Qiana Joseph: Junior Sportswoman of the Year nominee.

Karim Sifflet: Keegan Caul: Junior Sportsman Sportsman of the of the Year Year nominee. nominee.

athletes with the EliteTrack and Field Club which he belongs to, Nominee For Sportswoman of the Year: Levern Spencer nce again oustanding (high jump) – Achievements athletes in several - January – gold medal at disciplines along Clemson International; February with coaches, officials and administrators, will be honored – bronze medal at NYRR Milrose Games in New York; April at the 40th Annual National Sports Awards, presented by the gold medal at SPECS Town Invitational in Georgia; bronze Ministry of Youth Development medal in Czech Republic; and Sports on February 15 bronze medal at Drakes Relay; at the Events St Lucia Tent at June - silver medal in Finland; Reduit. gold medal in Germany; silver A short list was finalized for medal in Poland; August – gold the most prestigious awards, medal at Pan American Games; with the St Lucia Athletics May – fifth place at IAAF Association and the St Lucia Diamond League Invitational; National Cricket Association, September – 13th place at IAAF leading the way with three of World Championship in Qatar. their athletes shortlisted.

During the period under Following are the athletes review, Spencer ensured the who are on the shortlist for the country’s flag continued to be prestigious awards and what flown across the world with her they accomplished in 2019. performances. She is currently Athletics: Nominee for ranked number one in the Sportsman of the Year: OECS, number two in the North Albert Reynolds (javelin) America, Central Caribbean and - Achievements: February Caribbean region and ranks National Independence Games 18th in the world – gold medal, new national Nominee for Junior record; August - Pan American Sportswoman of the Year: Julien Games bronze medal with a Alfred – 2019 achievements: new national record, eclipsing February – New National Indoor his previous record set in February; October 2019 – World record (gold in 60m); April 29 (national 100m record); bronze Championship Doha Qatar – in 100m in Arkansas; silver ranked 38th in the world in medal at Texas ATM in both javelin event. in the 100m and 200m; silver Reynolds had outstanding medal at Mont Sac Relays in performances in 2019. This 100m; May – silver medal in elite competitor is a mentor to

By David R Pascal

O

Mikaili Chalemagne: Junior Sportswoman of the Year nominee.

Julien Alfred: Junior Sportswoman of the Year nominee.

100m and bronze in 200m in Conference Outdoors; December – gold medal in 60m (new national record).

Alfred had a successful year for her school Texas Longhorns, and broke national indoor record three times. In December she established a new national record, as well as the fastest NCAA Division 1 time, also the fifth fastest 60m sprinter in Texas history.

Cricket: Nominee for Junior Sportswoman: Qiana Joseph: Achievements - Captain CWI / TTWCA 19 and Under Regional 20/20 Female cricket tournament; member of Windward Islands U19 female team that placed second in that tournament; Player of the Match in five of seven matches in TTWCA 19 and Under Regional 20/20 Female Cricket Tournament. She received the following awards: Most runs in the tournament, Highest Individual Score, MVP of the Tournament.

Joseph continues to represent Saint Lucia and the Windward Islands with distinction. She has proven that she is extremely skilled, talented and performs exceptionally.

Nominee for Junior Sportsman: Kimani Melius: Achievements - Captained Melius Challengers to second place in Gros Islet Cricket

Meggan William: Sportswoman of the Year nominee.

Johnson Charles: Sportsman of the Year nominee.

Jayhan Odlum Smith: Junior Sportsman of the Year nominee.

League; in the Babonneau Cricket League he averaged 104 runs in two matches; His Gros Islet U19 Cricket Team played undefeated and was victorious in the 2019 Inter District SLNCA Sandals 50 Over Cup for the third year; Captained Gros Islet Senior Cricket Team; Captained Gros Islet Knights Cricket Team; Captained Saint Lucia National U-19 Cricket Team; Vice-Captain Saint Lucia National Senior Team; this Windward Islands Volcanoes Senior Cricketer scored a half century on his debut; Captained Windward Islands U-19 that finished the tournament with most runs for the third consecutive year; Vice-Captain for the West Indies Emerging Players Team for the Colonial Medical Insurance Super 50 Cup; member of West Indies B Team; scored most runs during the West Indies U19 camp in World Cup Practice matches with two centuries.

Melius is an exemplary leader and team player. He has been instrumental in many of his team’s successes locally and regionally. This Babonneau resident is also Saint Lucia’s national batting record holder, having made the highest individual score by any Saint Lucian (275 runs).

Nominee for Sportsman: Johnson Charles: Achievements - Represented community on the SPL T20 Castries Lions

Albert Reynolds: Sportsman of the Year nominee.

Levern Spencer: Sportswoman of the Year.

De’Andre Calderon: Junior Sportsman of the Year nominee.

Cricket Team; CPL Barbados Tridents third leading run scorer in the CPL; represented Saint Lucia in the Regional Police T20 tournament; fourth highest total runs in the Bangladesh Premier League for the Sylhet Thunder; played in the Pakistan Super League for Multan Sultans; also played in Abu Dhabi T10 League for Kanartaka Tuskers.

Charles has stayed true to cricket and has represented teams across the globe with excellence. He was the leading run scorer for the CPL Barbados Tridents brought them to the finals where they won their second CPL title. In the 2019 season he has played exclusively in the shorter format of the game and has excelled.

Football: Nominee for Junior Sportsman: Keegan Caul: Achievements - U19 Inter Secondary School tournament starting position and contributed to Ciceron Secondary School placing third; he was the top goal scorer in Castries Youth League (won tournament Golden Boots); scored four goals during Northern Zone U17 League; led Central Castries U15 to National Inter District U15 tournament title (awarded Golden Boots for 14 goals scored during this tournament).

Currently enrolled at the Saint Lucia Sports Academy, Caul continues to be a leader with the ability to motivate his

Kimani Melius: Junior Sportsman of the Year nominee.

teammates and ensures his team performs.

Nominee for Sportsman: Vino Barclette: Achievements - In his capacity as goal keeper, he represented his local club Knights with distinction and was instrumental in carrying the team through to win Promotional League in the Vieux Fort League; played a key role in giving his club the edge in the Presidents Cup Club Championship; conceded very few goals in the 2019 CONCACAF Nations League Championship; barely conceded goals in the Blackheart 2019 tournament; an asset to the 2019 Men’s National team during the 2019 Nations League Championship.

Karate: Nominee for Sportsman: Karim Sifflet – Achievements - May – Kimono D’Or French Open Guadeloupe Bronze Medal, Kumite (+75kg); June - KFStLu Legends Open Championship, gold medal, Kumite (+75kg), silver medal, kata; August - Caribbean Karate Federation Championships in Santo Domingo, gold medal, Kumite (+84kg).

Sifflet is a Third Dan (black belt) in Shotokan Karate and is and assistant instructor at Budokai Karate Dojo in Corinth. He is a good example of sportsmanship and is a great role model to the younger karatekas.

22

sports

www.stluciastar.com

february 08, 2020 THE STAR

Athletics Association honored their very best at Gala Awards

A family member of Julien Alfred (right) received the Junior Female Athlete of the Year award on her behalf from Chief Education Officer, Fiona Mayer.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Benson Emile (left) presented Albert Reynolds with the Senior Male Athlete of the Year award.

Due to the absence of Levern Spencer her Local Manager, Reverend Gregory Dixon (right) accepted the Senior Female Athlete of the Year award from SLAA President, Cornelius Breen.

National Championship and Age Group Championships, earned him a place on St Lucia’s team to the NACAC Age Group he reigning Sportsman of Championships in El Salvador. the Year, Sportswoman At that competition Ferdinand of the Year and Junior earned a gold and silver medal Sportswoman of the Year, were honored for their achievements and ranked fifth in the Under 15 Boys individual category and in 2019 by their association, second in the Under 15 Boys at the St Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA) Awards Gala Team category.

This Awards Gala was last Saturday evening at the short but sweet. It began with Jonathan Everett Conference Room located at Olympic House, Mistress of Ceremony, Shirley Ann Lubin introducing special La Clery. guests including Permanent Albert Reynolds who competes in javelin, high jumper Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports; Levern Spencer and sprinter Benson Emile; Chief Education Julien Alfred were recipients of prestigious awards at the Gala. Reynolds was named the Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Spencer is the Senior Female Athlete of the Year and Alfred came away with Junior Female ollowing semifinal play Athlete of the year. The other at the Phillip Marcellin prestigious award, Junior Male Grounds in Vieux Fort this Athlete of the Year went to past weekend in the Veterans in Jaheim Ferdinand.

Sports Inc Football Tournament, Reynolds, Spencer and the stage is set for the finals in Alfred are among the shortlisted both the Plate division and the nominees for prestigious Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup. awards at the upcoming On Saturday in the Plate National Sports Awards (see semifinal Labowee Connexions separate story inside detailing edged Vieux Fort North 2-1. their achievements in 2019).

Goals for the winning side came Regrettably despite having courtesy of Albert and Endley an outstanding year, Ferdinand Emmanuel in the 45th and 50th was not among the athletes minute. shortlisted for the National Alvin St Ville was the lone Sports Awards. Ferdinand won goal scorer for Vieux Fort North a gold medal and four silver in the 77th minute. medals in competition. His

In the second semifinal silver medals that came at the that day between Congorians

By David R Pascal

T

Deputy Chairman of the National Lotteries Authority, John Estephane (left) presented the Junior Male Athlete of the Year award to Jaheim Ferdinand.

Officer, Fiona Mayer who was the Guest Speaker; Deputy Chairman of the National Lotteries Authority, John Estephane; Director of Youth and Sports, Patrick Mathurin; President of the St Lucia Athletics Association, Cornelius Breen and executive members of the SLAA. In his speech Breen summarized the past year and despite some ups and downs, concluded it was a successful year for athletics in St Lucia.

Truth be told, the SLAA can thank their lucky stars (no pun attended) for Spencer, Reynolds and Alfred who keep

St Lucia on the map with their outstanding performances overseas.

Looking ahead to 2020, the SLAA President is again counting on support from sponsors and mentioned cost cutting measures to make ends meet.

Referring to sponsors he said: “Your contributions has gone a long way to make the dreams of our athletes become a reality. For this we say thank you.”

Breen then cast a gloomy outlook for this year saying: “We look forward to your continued support as we take

Entertainment came courtesy of Fayola Lubin on the violin.

another step in turbulent waters of 2020. I say turbulent waters because 2019 was not easy and the projection for 2020 is looking even tougher.

He pointed out that the SLAA’s total expenditure for

2019 was in excess of $250, 00.00 and the projection for 2020 is even tougher. “It is with this in mind that we are working to tighten on our games operations in order to attract and keep sponsors,” said Breen.

Finalists decided in Veterans Football Tournament

F

Marchand Veterans players (foreground) defending a corner kick in Sunday’s game against Lancers FC.

and Valley Legends, the outcome was decided on penalty kicks, with the score tied 2-2 after regulation time.

Haze Maxwell scored both goals for Valley Legends in the 10th and 73 minute.

Fedee in the 47th minute and Adrian Edward in the 80th minute scored for Congorians who eventually won on penalty kicks.

Having won their semifinal games, Congorians and Labowee Connexions meet in the final of the Plate division taking place today (Saturday) at the Phillip Marcellin Grounds. Prior to the final at 7:00 pm, is the Third Place Playoff at 5:00 pm between Valley Legends and Vieux Fort North.

In the opening game of the semifinals of the Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup on Sunday, All Blacks from Dennery went up against Marchand Veterans.

Dennery got the better of Marchand 2-0. Magabi Polius in the 25th minute and Hendricks Collymore in the 65th scored for Dennery.

In the second semifinal of the Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup, Central Vieux Fort shutout Flow Lancers FC 1-0.

The two winning semifinalist All Blacks from Dennery and Central Vieux Fort, face each other in the finals of the Caribbean Alliance Gold Cup next Saturday.

THE STAR

february 08, 2020

classified

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FOR SALE Item Subaru Forrester vehicle Year of manufacture 2016 Engine cc 2000 Odometer 17,151 KM Contact Carol Mangal @

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